Press Releases

Online Banking Getting New Look and Features

November 4, 2013

A new look for the First Landmark Bank eConnect and eConnect Platinum Online Banking Systems has arrived.

In November 2013, First Landmark Bank upgraded the eConnect and (business) eConnect Platinum online banking system. The upgrade enhances your banking experience with a new look and convenient, immediate access to features you use most often. You will enjoy more efficient views of accounts and navigations to choose from. The upgrade also includes a new overview page that will allow you to review account balances and recent transactions, along with the ability to perform transfers quickly.

Check out the new release as we strive to provide you banking tools that will meet your present and future banking needs.

New Platinum MasterCard Program Now Available

September 9, 2013

First Landmark Bank is pleased to announce a new Platinum MasterCard program, available to businesses and individuals that includes choice of rewards points or cash back option with no annual program fee. Below are additional benefits available with the new Platinum MasterCard*:

No annual credit card fee

Competitive Annual Percentage Rate

Online access to all of your credit card activity information

24/7 customer support

Credit card protection, assistance and savings

*Subject to credit approval.

Learn more about the Platinum MasterCard program from the Bank’s Financial Specialists by calling 770.792.8870.

Board Names Francis Chairman; DeWitt CEO

April 18, 2013

On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, the Board of Directors of First Landmark Bank continued its succession plan begun in August 2011 by electing Ronald H. Francis to the position of Chairman of the Board and adding Chief Executive Officer to the title of President Terrence Y. DeWitt. Immediate Past Chairman John Moore made the announcement at the bank’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

John H. Moore, who has served as Chairman of the Board since inception, remains a valued member of the Board of Directors and will serve as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee. Mr. Moore stated, “In planning First Landmark Bank, Ron Francis and I discussed the timeline for when he would devote his time to the Bank’s strategic direction and less time to the day-to-day operations. The experience he has gained in the three Cobb County de novo banks he guided and grown as well as the wealth of experience and contacts he has gained in his 44-year banking career makes him uniquely qualified to take the reins of Chairman. These two fine executive officers assumed the responsibilities associated with their new titles effective April 17, 2013.”

Chairman Moore continued, “Since his election as President and Chief Operating officer in August of 2011, Mr. DeWitt has shown himself to be an effective leader, risk manager and strategist. Having previously served as the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, we were fortunate to have someone of his experience and caliber in the Bank’s employ since its inception. ­­Terry has played a key role in the Bank’s success to this point, and the Board enthusiastically supports his ability to continue the momentum of the Bank’s growth.”

Previously President DeWitt was with New South Federal Savings Bank in Irondale, Alabama, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. He has also served as Senior Vice President/CFO of Financial Investors of the South, Inc./Bank of Alabama in Birmingham Alabama, and as Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Commerce (now Cadence Bank) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In 1998 DeWitt received the Outstanding Young Banker Award from the Alabama Bankers Association.

His experience in Cobb County includes serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Chattahoochee Financial Corporation and The Chattahoochee Bank in Marietta from 1986 to 1990. He began his career with Price Waterhouse in Atlanta in 1983.

Mr. DeWitt is a 1983 graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He is a member of the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, the Marietta Country Club, and the Rotary Club of Marietta, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. DeWitt serves on the Board of Directors and is Finance Committee Chairman of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of the Cobb Community Collaborative.

Artist Lois McKinstry Now Showing on Landmark Arts Wall

March 28, 2013

Several works of Marietta artist Lois McKinstry are now on display on the Landmark Arts Wall, Terrace Level, at First Landmark Bank. A retired nurse and long-time artist, Lois uses a variety of artistic mediums in her work. The display is a sampling of her work and represents her creations spanning several decades. We invite you to visit the Bank and view her beautiful offerings, which will be on display until May 20.

First Landmark Bank takes delight in inviting local amateur artists to display their art work on the Landmark Arts Wall. If you are such an artist, or know of one that may be interested, please contact Renee White at 770.792.8870.

Bank president Terry DeWitt stated, “For our Advisory Board, we look for business owners and professionals who impact our market through their business and community influence. Their experience provides for fresh insight on how we are performing as a bank and serving the community in Marietta and Cobb County.”

2012 Limited Edition Landmark Greeting Cards Now Available

November 21, 2012

For the fourth consecutive year, First Landmark Bank commissioned local artist Nita Burge to paint a local landmark which is, in turn, photographed and printed as all-occassion greeting cards. This year’s painting subject is the Chattahoochee River, and the painting is entitled River of Painted Rocks.

The gift-boxed set of 12 blank cards are available for $10 per box and can be purchased in the banking office of First Landmark Bank, 307 N. Marietta Parkway, Marietta, while supplies last. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will be donated to The Cottage School, a local non-profit school that provides personal instruction to a student population that experiences exceptional challenges in a larger school environment.

Did you know? The Chattahoochee River, which flows along the southern border of Cobb County, originates from a tiny spring in the foothills of the Appalachians. “Chattahoochee” is an Indian word meaning “river of painted rocks.” For the Creek and Cherokee Indians, the River aided in farming, commerce and transportion from North Georgia to the Gulf. Today, the River is a source of recreation in Cobb County and serves as a scenic landmark in the region.

Be Alert! New Fraud Attempt Explained Here

November 13, 2012

Bank Clients should be alert to the following ‘phishing’ fraud attempt.

Whenever you receive an email like the following example that has just been received by a client and others and reported, NEVER click on the link provided. It is always safe business practice to contact your vendors using the contact information THEY provide, not from a random email regardless of how ‘official’ it appears. This particular fraud attempt targeted payroll processing. Notice the spelling error of the word “removed” in the first bullet point. Or perhaps the writer misused the word ‘revoked’ instead. Many times fraud perpetrators are international and not adept at English. Unusual words, misspelled words, unusual phrases — all are ‘red flags’ and should not be ignored.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL ‘FRAUDULENT’ EMAIL CURRENTLY BEING ROUTED TO RANDOM PERSONAL AND BUSINESS EMAIL ADDRESSES:

Direct Deposit Service Informer

Informational Only

We processed your payroll on November 1, 2012 at 365 PM Pacific Time.

Money would be revoked from the Checking account number ending in: XXX3 on November 2, 2012.

Funds are typically departed before business banking hours so please be sure you have enough Cash on the account by 12 a.m. on the date Funds are to be withdrawn.

Intuit must process your payroll by 4 p.m. Eastern time, two banking days before your paycheck date or your personnel will not be paid on time. QuickBooks does not process payrolls on weekends or federal banking holidays. A list of federal banking holidays can be viewed at the Federal Reserve website.

Thank you for your business.

Regards,

Intuit Payroll Services

Read More About “Phishing” Here And Be Alert and Prepared!

Phishing (FISHing)

Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to attempt to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, and other sensitive information. Phishing is the term coined by hackers who imitate legitimate companies in e-mails to entice people to share passwords or credit card numbers. While the above example did not involve a request from a bank, please remember: First Landmark Bank will never send e-mails requesting personal information. We will never ask you to “verify” personal financial information through an e-mail. We will never ask you to click on a special site link to do so. While emails of this nature may look like they are from us, and may even use our logo, they are likely a “phishing” scam. Do not answer them. If you receive an email purporting to be from us, do not hesitate to call us to confirm it.

Cherokee Heights Arts Festival This Saturday

November 7, 2012

First Landmark Bank is proud to join with Keep Marietta Beautiful to sponsor the Cherokee Heights Neighborhood Arts Festival in Marietta, just blocks from the Marietta Square. The festival will be held this Saturday, November 10, 9am – 4 pm (rain date Sunday) and includes live music, free crafts and activities for the kids. Over 30 neighborhood and local artists will display and sell original art, clothing, jewelry, birdhouses, pottery and more.

The Cherokee Heights neighborhood includes Seminole and Freyer that run off of Cherokee Street, and the festival is held on Etowah Drive that intersects them. The neighborhood is between the Marietta Square and WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Shred Fest to be held November 5th

October 29, 2012

First Landmark Bank in Marietta will hold a Community Shred Fest on Monday, November 5, 2012. From Noon to 3 p.m., Iron Mountain, the Bank’s document destruction vendor, will park their truck in the ATM/drive-through lot adjacent to the Bank’s headquarters located at 307 N. Marietta Parkway. Both customers and non-customers can participate in this event that provides secure shredding and disposal of outdated, unneeded confidential documents. Participants can also register to win door prizes, including a new Ativa LD800 personal/home office shredder.

The shredding event is free and open to the public. There is a limit of 400 pounds of documents per business (equivalent of approximately 8 boxes of copy paper). There is no personal document limit. Staples and paper clips do not need to be removed before disposal; however, please remove the following: binder clips; masking tape; duck tape; plastic materials; binders containing metal rings or fasteners. Your boxes and bins will be returned to you after they are emptied. Participants may watch a camera screen showing their confidential documents being destroyed as it occurs.

The Landmark Shred Fest is intended to raise community awareness of the risks of identity theft and to provide citizens access to one of the simplest yet most important methods of identity theft protection — document shredding.

“It is essential to shred all unneeded confidential documents containing social security numbers, account numbers or other private information before throwing them in the trash,” states First Landmark Bank Information Security Officer Leigh Pharr, who adds, “Properly disposing of materials that contain personal information is one of the best ways to guard against identity theft.”

Businesses have document retention schedules based on their industries. Local residents planning to participate in the Shred Fest may request to have a Personal Record Retention Schedule sent to them. To make this request or for answers to other questions regarding the Landmark Shred Fest, contact Renee White of First Landmark Bank at 770.792.8870 ext. 203 or email info@firstlandmarkonline.com.